Charcoal Briquet Production at the Ford Iron Mountain Plant, Chute from Briquet Press to Dryers, 1935

Summary

Ford Motor Company made charcoal from wood wastes produced by its Michigan lumber mills. Wood chips were collected, dried and burned in retorts. These special ovens captured the combustion gases so that they could be used to generate some of the energy needed to run the plant. The resulting char was crushed, mixed with starch and compressed into useable briquettes.

Ford Motor Company made charcoal from wood wastes produced by its Michigan lumber mills. Wood chips were collected, dried and burned in retorts. These special ovens captured the combustion gases so that they could be used to generate some of the energy needed to run the plant. The resulting char was crushed, mixed with starch and compressed into useable briquettes.